RIM Releases BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0

Facing competition from Apple's iPhone and Microsoft products, mobile and wireless device maker Research In Motion introduces a new version of its BlackBerry Enterprise Server that it says improves functionality for both IT administrators and BlackBerry users. BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 features a Web-based administrative interface and allows users view e-mail attachments and manage, add, rename and delete e-mail folders.

NEW YORK-Research
In Motion rolled out its new BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0, code-named Argon,
at a presentation here Feb. 11.

The server, upgraded from Version 4.1.6, has been running in production mode at
RIM for over two years and with early adopter users for over a year. BlackBerry
Enterprise Server 5.0 will be generally available starting in the second
quarter of 2009. In a demo, RIM showed how the server's Web-based
administrative interface could make IT management more rapid and flexible.

RIM also announced new capabilities for BlackBerry users, who will be able to view
e-mail attachments and add, move, rename and delete e-mail folders.

In one much-touted development, the BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 features
over-the-air software loading, meaning that IT administrators can schedule the mobile
devices in their enterprise networks to be wirelessly updated with new software
as it becomes available.

"The only reason you would ever cable your [individual BlackBerry device]
in this version is to charge it," Alan Panezic, vice president of Platform
Product Management for RIM, said during the presentation.

After entering a URL to access the Web-based server, the administrator is
greeted by a dashboard screen featuring links to commonly accessed areas such
as users, groups, policy, software configurations, applications, servers and
components.

With the ability to remotely govern privileges for what individual users can do
on the server, schedule software updates and other tasks to automatically run
at specific times, and deploy and manage enterprise applications over the air,
the server presents IT administrators with what RIM officials refer to as
"granular control."

As smartphones see increased adoption in the enterprise world and RIM's
BlackBerrys face increased competition from Apple's iPhone, Microsoft products
and others, TIM is positioning itself through its server and devices to provide
that market with end-to-end services.
"The solution is made up of two elements, the
individual device and the server, and the two together provide a system to
satisfy the needs of IT," David Heit, director of Enterprise Product
Management for RIM, said in an interview. "This all comes together on the
BlackBerry platform."

Nicholas Kolakowski is a staff editor at eWEEK, covering Microsoft and other companies in the enterprise space, as well as evolving technology such as tablet PCs. His work has appeared in The Washington Post, Playboy, WebMD, AARP the Magazine, AutoWeek, Washington City Paper, Trader Monthly, and Private Air. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.